title: Estimates of stroke incidence and case fatality in Zabrze, 2005-2006.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epidemiological rates for stroke obtained in the United States and Western Europe indicate a decrease in incidence and case fatality. Data published for Poland, as for other Central-Eastern European countries, reported unfavourable results, but this was based on data from the 1990s. The authors evaluated current stroke rates in a population study of the southern Poland city of Zabrze.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective registry of all stroke cases treated in Zabrze, southern Poland, in 2005-2006, was established, based on data from the National Health Fund. Cases were identified by verifying patient files. Epidemiological rates were calculated and standardized to the European population in both groups: all stroke patients, including recurrent (all strokes, AS), and patients with first-ever stroke (FES) in their history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We registered 731 strokes, including 572 FES cases (78.3%) and 159 recurrent strokes (21.7%). There were 385 strokes in men (52.7%), and 346 in women (47.2%); 88.6% were ischaemic strokes (IS), and 11.4% were intra-ce-rebral haemorrhages (ICH). The standardized incidence rate for AS patients was 167/100 000 (211 for men, 130 for women), and in the FES group 131/100 000 (161 for men, 104 for women). Twenty-eight day case fatality for the AS group was 18.3% (15.4% for IS, 41% for ICH), and 16.6% for FES (13.4% for IS, 40.9% for ICH).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incidence rates in this southern Poland city are comparable to those reported previously for Poland. Early case fatality decreased, compared to previous data, probably as a result of improved management of acute stroke and hospitalizing all stroke patients.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Neurologii, Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny, ul. 3 maja 13-15, 41-800 Zabrze. mcwaw@mp.pl
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wawrzyńczyk
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pierzchała
authors.forename: Bogumiła
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Braczkowska
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mańka-Gaca
authors.forename: Klaudiusz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kumor
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Borowski
authors.forename: Lucyna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grodzicka-Zawisza
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zejda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data